Concept of House VI
House VI is based on a conceptual process that began with a grid. Eisenman manipulated the grid in a way that divided the house into four sections and created a series of transformations that resulted in the final form of the house. The house is not only an object, but also a record of its own generative history. The house retains the traces of its transformations, such as the slits in the walls and ceilings that represent planes, the columns and beams that mark the geometry and rhythm of the grid, and the upside-down staircase that portrays the axis of the house. The house is also painted red to draw attention to its conceptual nature.
House VI challenges the conventional notions of architectural perception and representation. The house does not follow the principles of form following function, but rather creates spaces that are quirky and difficult to live with. The house forces the users to constantly be aware of the architecture and to adapt to its idiosyncrasies. For example, in the bedroom, there is a glass slot in the center of the wall that divides the room in half, forcing the couple to sleep apart from each other. In the kitchen, there is a column that hovers over the table, creating an obstacle for communication. In the living room, there are beams that meet but do not intersect, creating a sense of tension and compression. The house also has only one bathroom that is accessible through a bedroom, making it inconvenient for guests.
House VI is not meant to be an aesthetic or symbolic experience, but rather an exploration into the potential manipulations latent in the nature of architecture. The house questions the cultural preconceptions that obscure our understanding of architecture and invites us to rethink its possibilities.
Design and Construction of House VI
House VI was designed using a simple post and beam system. However, some of the columns or beams have no structural role and are incorporated to enhance the conceptual design. For instance, one column in the kitchen does not touch the ground, but is suspended from above by a beam. Another column in the living room does not support anything, but is attached to a wall by a bracket. Some of the beams also have gaps or overlaps that create visual contradictions. The structure was deliberately made visible and exposed to show its construction process.
House VI was constructed using prefabricated components that were assembled on site. The components were made of wood and metal and were painted red to match Eisenman's drawings. The construction was supervised by Eisenman himself, who made some adjustments and modifications during the process. The construction was completed in 1975 with a budget of $135,000. The house has undergone several repairs and renovations since then, due to structural problems and weather damage. The house is still owned by Mrs. Suzanne Frank, who has become an admirer and defender of Eisenman's work.
DWG Files of House VI
If you are interested in studying or analyzing House VI in more detail, you can download some DWG files of the house from various sources online. Here are some links to access them:
[EISENMAN ARCHITECTS]: This is the official website of Peter Eisenman's firm, where you can find a project brochure with some drawings and photos of House VI.[PDF]
[Mental Finesse]: This is a large file in DWG format with full AutoCAD documentation, scale 1/4, 1/2, 1/4, 1/6, 1/8, 1/12, 1/16, 1/20, 1/24, 1/32.[PDF]
[Drawing Matter]: This is a website that showcases architectural drawings from various sources and periods. You can find a color axonometric drawing of House VI by Eisenman.[PDF]
We hope you enjoyed this article and learned something new about House VI and Peter Eisenman. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them below.
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